Method for providing price information to subscribers of a digital mobile communication network

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for providing price information to subscribers of a digital mobile communication network. The aim of the invention is to inform the subscriber of the cost of a call he/she is about to make, in a simple manner. To this end, when the subscriber dials a call number, he/she obtains information on the rate to expect for a communication by means of short messaging service (SMS).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC ORREFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a method for providing price information tosubscribers of a digital mobile communication network.

2. Description of Related Art

There are a large number of different prices and price systems intelecommunications, particularly for digital mobile communicationnetworks. The prices depend, inter alia, on the price group chosen bythe subscriber, on the time of day, on the destination communicationnetwork and the distance (domestic/international).

Although the subscribers that choose mobile communication networks aregenerally well informed about the individual call prices, it isnevertheless difficult to obtain an overview of the call costs thatshould actually be expected.

Another problem is what is referred to as mobile number portability(MNP). MNP means that it is possible for a subscriber to a specificmobile radio network to retain his original call number even on changingto a different mobile radio network. It is thus no longer possible for acaller to determine the price for the intended call directly on thebasis of the number which he has dialed. For example, MNP means that adialed call number 0171 1234567 which was originally allocated to theGerman D1 mobile radio network could now belong to a subscriber who haschanged to a different German mobile radio network, so that the callprice is more expensive than originally assumed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to specify a method for providing priceinformation to subscribers of a digital mobile communication network,which informs the subscriber directly of the costs of an intended call,in a simple manner.

According to the invention, at the moment when the connection is setup—or else even before a connection is actually set up—the callingsubscriber receives a short message (SMS) which informs the subscriberof the price of the following call. The subscriber can, of course,switch off this function.

If the subscriber is informed before setting up the desired connection,he can allow or terminate the rest of the process for setting up theconnection by acknowledgement of the transmitted price information.

A specific SMS type may be used for price information, in which the SMSfirstly appears directly on the display of the mobile radioterminal—generally below the display of the active network—and secondlyis not stored in the subscriber's SIM card, as is normally done withconventional SMS. This form of SMS is also already used in mobile radionetworks, for example for notification that an SMS has been received.This is preferably the high-priority short message, referred to as thehigh-priority SMS. This short message is made available in a short timeand is displayed immediately on the subscriber's mobile radio terminaldisplay.

In order that the subscriber does not receive an SMS relating to priceinformation whenever a call attempt is made, the transmission of the SMScan be restricted to situations in which the actual price is not thesame as would have been expected on the basis of the chosen call number.This is the situation in particular for calls to subscribers with an MNPcall number, or else when calling special call numbers, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

One exemplary embodiment of the invention will be explained in moredetail with reference to FIG. 1, describing further features, advantagesand applications of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows, schematically, the logical layout of an IN architecturefor a digital mobile radio network, for example of the GSM type.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The process of setting up a connection and of relaying a call iscontrolled by what are referred to as signaling points, in particularthe service control point 2 (SCP) and the service switching points 5(SSP), which are controlled by a higher-level service management system1.

The service control point 2 is used to manage the network points andinclude the service logic at the control level, which is required for arapid and flexible connection process. Because SCP 2 also passes onconnection information, for example for charge recording and statistics,to other network elements.

The service switching point 5 is in a network node with network accessand a switching function and has direct influences to the subscriberterminals 7, 8. The billing center 6 (BC) can also be set up in the areaof the SSP 5.

Signaling transfer points 3, 4 (STP) for network signaling are locatedbetween the SCP 2 and the SSP 5. STP are used for passing signalingmessages between the individual service and signaling points, althoughwe can also carry out other tasks within the scope of signaling.

The network elements in the mobile radio network which are used for theactual core transmission process, such as mobile radio terminals (MS),base stations (BTS) and their controllers (BSC), mobile switchingcenters (MSC) etc are not shown in FIG. 1. These elements are connectedvia appropriate interfaces to the signaling points described above.

According to the invention, an SMS for price information is initiated bythe network elements which fixes the prices for the call. In the case ofa subscriber who has a subscriber relationship of what is referred to asa prepaid basis, the system, for example, is SCP 2. When setting up acall, the subscriber 7 receives from the SCP 2, or initiates by the SCP,an SMS about the connection costs to be expected. This is illustrated bya logic value SCP 2 to the subscriber 7. The method, for example, “thiscall costs DM 1.29 per minute” then appears on the subscriber's mobileradio terminal display.

In the case of subscribers with a regular contract relationship, the STP3 initiates the sending of the SMS relating to price information, since,in this case, STP also fixes the port for a subscriber. This is likewiseillustrated by an arrow.

1. A method for providing price information to subscribers of a digitalmobile communications network, in which the subscriber receives actualconnection costs to be expected in response to dialing a call numberand, on dialing a call number, the actual connection costs to beexpected is displayed directly on a subscriber's mobile radio terminaldisplay using a high-priority short message service (SMS), characterizedin that the price information is provided only when the actual price isnot the same as the price to be expected on the basis of a dialed callnumber and the dialed call number is a mobile number portability (MNP)call number or a special call number.
 2. The method as claimed in claim1, wherein the subscriber receives the actual connection costs whilesetting up the desired connection.
 3. The method as claimed in claim 1,wherein the subscriber receives the actual connection costs beforesetting up the desired connection.
 4. The method as claimed in claim 1,wherein the subscriber allows the connection to be set up byconfirmation of the transmitted actual connection costs.
 5. A system forproviding price information to subscribers of a digital mobilecommunications network, in which the subscriber receives from acommunications point actual connection costs to be expected in responseto dialing a call number and, on dialing a call number, the actualconnection costs to be expected is displayed directly on a subscriber'smobile radio terminal display using a high-priority short messageservice (SMS), characterized in that the price information is providedonly when the actual price is not the same as the price to be expectedon the basis of a dialed call number and the dialed call number is amobile number portability (MNP) call number or a special call number. 6.The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the subscriber receives theactual connection costs while setting up the desired connection.
 7. Thesystem as claimed in claim 5 wherein the subscriber receives the actualconnection costs before setting up the desired connection.
 8. The systemas claimed in claim 5 wherein the subscriber allows the connection to beset up by confirmation of the transmitted actual connection costs.